Welcome to a new blog, To Speak the Truth in Love. My desire is to glorify Christ by offering encouragement to those who would be his people, believe his word, speak on his behalf, minister in his name, teach his truth, express his love. While I possess a keen interest in the church, the ministry and ministers, I have a number of other interests, as well. I hope to give expression to those interests as time permits. I am like many of you - an ordinary man on an extraordinary mission. I have chosen the following verses from Ephesians to serve as a beginning point for this journey:
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV
Some time back these words of Paul captured my imagination, particularly the phrase "speaking the truth in love." I believe these words speak simply, yet powerfully, to our high calling in the church: speaking (the method), the truth (the message), in love (the motive). Please note that these words apply to all members of the body. They are a significant part of our high calling in Christ.
May these words challenge each of us today.
(Constructive, insightful, helpful comments are invited - and welcome).
